© 2010 Local Government Alliance for International Development
| Development education |
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It explores topics such as trade, sustainable development and human rights, using active learning methods to foster critical thinking, confidence and communication skills. It looks at the relationship between global and local issues and promotes the idea that we are part of an interdependent global society and that we have a responsibility to contribute to a fairer, safer, healthier and more cohesive world. |
Development education has an important part to play in school, youth and adult learning. It enables people in the UK learn about global issues such as poverty and climate change and develop an open-minded, global outlook.>>Find out how
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Councils can ensure that the right mechanisms are in place in their area for development education to take its place in the learning process. Research conducted by the Development Education Association found that four out of every five teachers feel they should teach how emerging economies increasingly impact on UK life but three quarters of them aren’t confident about how to do so. Fortunately, there is a range of resources available for teachers and councils can play an important signposting role. Some councils have formed partnerships in their area or at a regional level with specialist development education centres to provide a more strategic resource for schools, youth and adult education settings in their locality. |
>>Case studies
Linking up with neighbouring councils - North London Councils
In order to better embed the global dimension and international links in its schools and in professional development for teachers,Barnet and Enfield Councils set up the cross-borough North London Schools International Network (NLSIN). The network now covers the boroughs of Enfield, Barnet, Haringey, Waltham Forest and Camden, providing practical support and guidance on setting up projects and offering a full training programme (partly funded by the British Council).
Kent County Council has set a strategic goal to ‘promote global learning and raise awareness of development’. The council’s international initiatives encompass Ghana, Gambia, and South Africa, as well as some European countries. They have involved officers from many departments, including adult services, economic development, community development, culture and tourism, corporate policy and strategy, European and International service. 85% of schools participate, together with community, health, faith, sports and youth groups in Kent and overseas. As well as educational development, the council identifies the following benefits that come from this work:
- raising standards
- sharing skills and good practice
- staff development and motivation
- helping to achieve community priorities (including delivery of community cohesion agenda)
- improving working relations with local organisations and ethnic groups
- improving community awareness of cultural diversity
- promoting trade/economic development
Coordinating initiatives – Enfield’s ‘global learning for all’
The Education and Children's Services department of the London Borough of Enfield has adopted a ‘global learning for all’ policy which aims to maximise the impact of international activities and visits by coordinating all such work across the borough. It encompasses the borough’s Fairtrade status, its school links with Ghana, its development education work (see linking up with neighbouring councils), and its links with communities in Greece and Turkey, countries where many of the borough’s residents have family links. Work has begun to develop a Council-wide policy. Enfield is happy to share its work – contact bernadette.clinton@enfieldpdc.org.uk for further details.
>>Self assessment
1 Do you know how many of the education settings in your area are incorporating development education as part of their service delivery?
2 Have you considered what ways you can facilitate support for these education settings by developing links and partnerships with development education centres or other sources of advice and expertise?
3 Are you teaming up with other councils to gain economies of scale from such partnerships?
4 How many of the schools in your locality have gained International Schools Award accreditation?
5 Have you thought through the ways in which you can give the efforts of schools and other education settings a boost by lending official backing to the activities, such as through mayoral endorsement or awards?
>>Resources
Useful links
NUT's free Internationalising Learning continuous professional development programme for teachers. Click on the links for details about the Internationalising Learning CPD programme and application form, a calendar of upcoming events and further resources for teachers on the NUT website.
Global Gateway provides a free international educational partner finding service for schools and colleges. It also contains support and free materials for development education projects, ideas on finding sources of finance and covers other training, support and management topics.
The Global Gateway site also has information and application details for the International School Award. This is an accreditation scheme - open to all schools, free of charge - which recognises curriculum-based international work.
The Think Global is a national organisation that promotes and supports development education. Its work covers both formal and informal education, which includes schools and youth work, in the 5-19 age group in England and the UK.
Think Global has a wide network of members who can provide help and support for teachers, youth workers and others involved in providing global learning at local, regional and/or national levels.
Local support is provided through DECs (Development Education Centres) which form a network of independent centres working directly with schools, youth projects and the local community. A number of other member organisations also work locally on global learning.
Global Schools Partnerships provide grants to local authorities to broker and support international partnerships between schools.
Link Community Development - an international development agency which sets up and supports links between schools in the UK and sub-Saharan Africa.
The League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers supports teachers and promotes excellence in education through developing, supporting and promoting a wide range of international professional development programmes for teachers and educators.
There are also many international development charities that offer teaching resources about poverty and related issues, including lots of free materials. Why not try one of the following:
Action Aid Book Aid CAFOD Christian Aid Jubilee Debt Campaign Oxfam Plan Save The Children VSO WaterAid